Kelly Durbin brings 30 years of performing experience to his teaching. He currently remains active as a jazz pianist performing at local and regional festivals and venues, often with international jazz artists. He has worked with the Woody Herman Orchestra, Frank Tiberi, David "Fathead" Newman, James Clay, LeRoy Cooper, Shelley Carroll, Hank Crawford, Mack Goldsbury, Jimmy Greene, Chris DeRose, Cornell DuPree, Tom Morrell, Greg Bissonnette, Billy Hart, Ed Soph, Sebastian Whittaker, Fred Hamilton, Chuck Rainey, Lynn Seaton, Jay Clayton, and Rosanna Vitro, to name a few. He was a long-time member of the Marchel Ivery Quintet, as well as ensembles led by bassist James Gilyard and saxophonist Wayne DeLano.

Prior to arriving at UT Dallas, Kelly Durbin taught jazz piano and traditional class piano at Cedar Valley College. During the 1999-2000 school year, he was also a full time Adjunct Professor at the University of North Texas, where he taught advanced jazz theory, aural skills, and small group. During his graduate studies at UNT, he was granted the Teaching Fellowship in jazz piano for two years. He studied piano at UNT with Steve Harlos, Dan Haerle, and Bob Rogers.

Kelly Durbin serves as a member of the UT Dallas Arts and Performance Jazz Advisory Board, where he plays in integral role in the planning and implementation of the annual Jazz Series. He performs an annual concert at UT Dallas, in addition to other faculty recitals. He is often invited to lecture, conduct workshops, adjudicate, and perform jazz in universities, high schools, museums, and arts centers.